Glossary / Lexicon

Complex is defined as a group of associated feelings, thoughts, and memories that have intense emotional content. Complexes may have elements from a personal and collective unconscious. To Carl Jung, Complex is a core or pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions, and wishes in the personal unconscious organized around a common theme, such as power or status. To Murray, it is a normal pattern of childhood development that influences the adult personality; childhood developmental stages include the claustral, oral, anal, urethral, and genital complexes.

Description

In psychology, the term 'Complex' refers to a set of unconscious emotions, ideas, and impulses that are organized around a central theme. These complexes can influence an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a profound way. They originate from past experiences and may be triggered by current events or interactions with others. Complexes can be positive, negative, or neutral, and they often play a significant role in shaping an individual's personality and relationships. Understanding and working through these complexes can be an important aspect of psychotherapy, as they can impact an individual's mental health and well-being.

Application Areas

• Psychotherapy
• Counseling
• Personality assessment
• Relationship dynamics
• Emotional regulation

Treatment and Risks

• Psychotherapy (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy)
• Exploration of unconscious processes
• Risks may include emotional distress, resistance to change, or exacerbation of symptoms

Examples

• Oedipus complex
• Inferiority complex
• Mother complex
• Hero complex
• Guilt complex

Similar Concepts and Synonyms

• Psychological complex
• Inner conflict
• Subconscious pattern
• Emotional schema

Articles with 'Complex' in the title

• AIDS-Related Complex: AIDS-Related Complex refers to a Group of minor health problems such as weight loss, fever, and night sweats that appears after HIV infection, but before Development of full-blown AIDS
• Cognitive complexity: Cognitive complexity refers to a cognitive style or way of construing the environment characterized by the ability to perceive differences among people
• Cognitive complexity and control (CCC) theory: Cognitive complexity and control: Cognitive complexity and control (CCC) theory : Cognitive complexity and control (CCC) theory is the proposal that there are age-related changes in the complexity of rule systems that children can . . .
• Complex cell: Complex cell refers to cell type of the visual cortex that responds best to a light stimulus of a particular shape anywhere in its receptive field- its receptive field cannot be mapped into fixed excitatory and inhibitory zones Complex . . .
• Complex partial seizure: Complex partial seizure refers to a type of seizure that has an element of altered psyche or awareness in addition to sensory or motor components.
• Complexity: The term "complexity" refers to the intricate and multifaceted nature of human behavior, cognition, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. It acknowledges that human psychology cannot be easily reduced to simple explanations or one- . . .
• Complexity of information: Complexity of information: Complexity of Information in the psychology context refers to the degree of difficulty involved in processing, understanding, and using information due to its intricacy, volume, ambiguity, or novelty
• Derivational theory of complexity: Derivational theory of complexity refers to the theory which states that the psychological complexity of a sentence is directly proportional to the length of its derivation
• Electra complex: Electra complex In Freudian thinking, a girl's attachment to her father- named after the mythical Electra who killed her mother and mother's lover in order to avenge her father's death
• GABAA receptor complex: GABAA receptor complex is defined as the structure that includes a site that binds GABA (Gamma amino butyric acid), as well as sites that bind other chemicals that modify the sensitivity of the GABA site
• Inferiority complex: Inferiority complex refers to a strong and pervasive belief that one is not as good as other people. It is often an exaggerated sense of feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that may result in being defensive or anxious- a condition that . . .
• Jonah complex: Jonah complex is a term according to Maslow is the fear of one's own potential greatness. Jonah complex, moreover is defined as the fear that maximizing our potential will lead to a situation with which we will be unable to cope
• Oedipus complex: Oedipus complex refers to the Freud's theory where the boys want to kill his father and sleep with his mother because of sexual attraction to mother. This complex is was named after the mythical Greek king , Oedipus who unwittingly killed . . .
• Complex System: Complex System: Complex system refers to the systems with a large number of interrelated parts. Thus the term is somewhat subjective and interpretive.
• Negative Oedipus complex: Negative Oedipus complex is the opposite of the Freud's Oedipus complex- wherein the child loves and sexually desires the parent of the same gender and identifies with the parent of the other gender
• Complex emotions: Complex emotions: Complex emotions is defined as self-conscious or self-evaluative emotions that emerge in the second year and depend, in part, on cognitive development
• Complex reaction time: Complex reaction time: Complex reaction time means making separate responses to separate stimuli as quickly as possible.
• Complex schedule: Complex schedule: Complex schedule refers to a schedule consisting of a combination of two (2) or more simple schedules.
• Complex stepparent home: Complex stepparent home: Complex stepparent home refers to a family consisting of two (2) married or co-habiting adults, each of whom has at least one biological child living at home
• K-complex: K-complex refers to sharp, high-amplitude, negative wave followed by a smaller, slower, positive wave
• Oedipal complex: Oedipal complex is a term which according to Freud refers to a child's erotically tinged desires for the other-sex parent, accompanied by feelings of hostility toward the same-sex parent
• Propositional complexity of a sentence: Propositional complexity of a sentence refers to the number of underlying distinct ideas in a sentence.

Summary

In psychology, a 'Complex' refers to a collection of unconscious emotions, ideas, and impulses that have a central theme and can significantly influence an individual's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These complexes are often rooted in past experiences and can impact various aspects of an individual's life, including relationships and overall mental health. Understanding and addressing these complexes through therapeutic techniques can be an important part of psychological treatment.

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